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Review: Crossover #2

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Crossover #2

In its debut, Crossover was a clear love letter to comic books and comic fandom. The second issue continues that with a mix of humor and horror but also adds in a reflection on our real world. Crossover #2 is the grounded reality to the first issue’s over the top fantasy.

Writer Donny Cates does what he does best, mixing up the action, surprises, and a little bit of humor. Crossover #2 exceeds the first issue’s solid debut by adding moments and concepts that’ll give you pause and make you reflect.

The series revolves around the concept that comic characters have entered the real world for some unknown reason. Their arrival has shaken the world resulting in protests against comics and a fear of this unknown. As we learn in this issue, it’s led to horrible actions by the government.

Cates does an interesting dance with the issue. It’s opening is riotous laughter as we find out comic creators are being killed one by one. The names, and what they’re “known for” will get comic fans to laugh and smile. But, much of the comic is a downer. We learn about the refugee comic character a bit more and discover that this fictional government is treating comic characters outside the dome in an all too familiar way.

Impressively, Cates does a solid dance between name and character checks. It’d be all too easy for the comic to come off as cute and insidery, where the the names mentioned or characters hinted are the entire depth of the comic. Instead, they act as window dressing to the meat of the story. They also lighten the mood in many ways making the heavier subject of Crossover #2 easier to digest.

Geoff Shaw‘s art, along with Dee Cunniffe‘s color, and John J. Hill‘s lettering are spot on. There’s clearly some fun with “spot the comic reference” on some pages. But, the trio keeps things grounded to making all of that natural. Where things really stand out is the comic characters in the real world. Their coloring and small details are amazing. Much like Cates’ story, they use nostalgia to emphasize aspects instead of that being the entire schtick. The art is understated in some ways. Scenes are purposely left sparse, for example, a gun when presented. It allows the focus to be clear and gets rid of distractions. A scene in jail too plays this out in some way allowing small details to tell the story.

Crossover #2 is a fantastic second issue that grounds the fantastical set up. Like so many solid sci-fi stories, this one is not just entertaining but acting as commentary and reflection on our reality. What seemed like an initial fun homage to comics is quickly shaping up to be an excellent story about our politics and reactions to fear and the unknown. It also reflects how quickly we can “other” individuals and groups to justify actions. With one issue, the series has become infinitely more interesting and deep.

Story: Donny Cates Art: Geoff Shaw
Color: Dee Cunniffe Letterer: John J. Hill
Story: 8.75 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.75 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Amazon – Kindle

Review: Nailbiter Returns #7

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Nailbiter Returns #7

Nailbiter Returns #7 delivers a trippy experience as our gang of heroes venture deeper into Buckaroo. The issue takes a hard turn as the group is drugged leading each of them to flip their lids and freak out. The story is out there and the visuals match. It’s best to not do drugs yourself while reading.

With a story and art by Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson, Nailbiter Returns #7 takes things in an unexpected direction. The battles with returned killers is put to the side as we get a Wonka-esque trip. The issue drops hint after hint as to who might be behind everything as each character spirals in their visions. And the comic is all about the visions.

There’s some crazy stuff in this issue as snakes come out of eyes, it rains blood, monsters appear. I’ve used the word trippy a lot but it really does the comic justice.

But, what’s interesting about Nailbiter Returns #7 is that it gets us to its end point through a windy road. The issue is peppered with hints and teases as to who’s behind things and I’m sure it’ll be interesting to go back to when everything is revealed. The comic could easily have cut through it all to get us to the end of the issue but it instead has fun with a forest funhouse of horrors.

The visuals are fantastic with some truly disturbing work that game me pause and had me quickly turning the page. Those visuals are also maximized to create a flow to the issue that’s a constant slide to the next sequence. Characters break through panels and pages to fall into the next terror of their experience. The use of perspective is top-notch and the issue feels like it’s designed to keep the reader off-center.

Things are helped by Adam Guzowski‘s colors and the lettering of John J. Hill. Purples, reds, and whites, are combined for a look that’s not scary or sickly but does have a frightening sense about it all. Hill’s lettering adds a punch and emphasis to key moments and like the art often breaks the bubble to add an exclamation point on it all.

Nailbiter Returns #7 is a very different issue than what has led up to it and it’s beyond welcomed. The visuals are crazy without being over the top and there’s something fun about the “wtf” of it all. If you’ve been reading the series, the issue doesn’t add a ton other than teases but it’s a lot of fun. If you just like crazy art, go for it. This isn’t the best place to start but it continues a hell of a fun horror series.

Story: Joshua Williamson, Mike Henderson Art: Joshua Williamson, Mike Henderson
Color: Adam Guzowski Letterer: John J. Hill Design: John J. Hill
Story: 8.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.35 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics

Review: Crossover #1

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Crossover #1

Crossover #1 explodes in the land of Colorado where a superhero event has taken place. The superheroes just sorta pop up outta nowhere as they cross over into the real world. An invisible field keeps everything and everyone from the event contained. It’s had an effect on the real world, as Baptists are against comic books and get angry at cosplayers. It’s like the comic book version of Footloose, which took place not too far from Provo, UT, where Crossover takes place. Apparently, Utah County is not that cool of a place for comics and dancing. Anyway, our heroine of the story works at a shop, and lo and behold, they notice one of the comic book people has gotten into the shop and the unruly mob outside the shop isn’t one bit happy about this suddenly happening.

What’s written above is a bland statement describing the story of Crossover but being fair, the book is better than I describe it. Donny Cates does his best work at Image Comics and this book certainly falls into that category. If one opens Crossover looking for a Supes battle of good and evil, you’ll be a bit disappointed, as that’s not really the story. It’s more about how someone living the small-town life lives within the current aftermath of the event. I did hope to see a bit more of it, too, but what Crossover lacks in big, costumed fights, it makes up for with a more human story. Cates has a real knack for injecting humanity into his characters and making them feel real. The strongest part of Crossover is not the event but the aftermath.

Kind of a weird complaint about this but I live in Utah. I’m not far from Provo and I go there often. I worked there for a few years. It’s not a place that would have any kind of active Baptist community. It’s basically ground zero for the LDS Church and living here, there’s so much of it thrown in your face that it’s not funny. Not many who read Crossover will know that little detail but I thought it was odd to not be accurate to the location. I know, it’s a book about a superhero explosion crossing into a more realistic world, but still…

The story is cool and all but what stood out to me was the art. Geoff Shaw and Dee Cunniffe put to paper a really beautiful comic, full of creativity and detail. It’s a colorful book, which I love when an art team can really stretch the color spectrum to the fullest. How a person looks from the Crossover world is a bit interesting, too, so I thought that was true to the world of comics. John J. Hill’s letters work great in the story with a few different changes in emotion.

I came into Crossover #1 open-minded of what it was, did all I could to not read any spoilers. Story-wise, Crossover #1 is an entertaining read. The concept is tight and the art hits on so many levels. This issue helps get the world-building explained and set up and with that, I  am definitely interested in where this story goes and am excited for issue two.

Story: Donny Cates Art: Geoff Shaw
Colors: Dee Cunniffe Letters & Design: John J. Hill Story Edits: Mark Waid
Story: 8.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Amazon – Kindle – TFAW – Zeus Comics

Review: The One You Feed #1

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The One You Feed #1

With the world of digital comics expanding, it opens up greater opportunities to drop comics without a lead-up and as a surprise. That happened with The One You Feed #1, the latest comic to debut through the digital comic platform Panel Syndicate.

Set in our modern world a phenomenon has begun. As the sun goes down and moon rises individuals turn into monsters. It doesn’t happen to all and seems to happen at random. Those monsters do what monsters do and destroy and kill. That has led the survivors of the world to band together to build a walled city fueled by an artificial sun where it’s never dark. Over 350 years in the future the city, Helios, is on the verge of a new leader, a young prince named Apollo. He’ll have to travel beyond the walls, survive, and return to take the thrown.

Writer Donny Cates knocks it out of the park with this debut that creates a future fantasy world. The first chapter focuses on the set up of what’s to come teasing out that what we’re told is lies and to expect an unexpected adventure. Cates has a mission with this debut chapter and that’s to shape a world and story. The world presented is an interesting one and its taken in an unexpected direction. We’ve seen numerous “cities built to protect against the monsters” story but this blends in the classic “quest” direction. It’s also clear where the story goes isn’t what’s presented. There’s likely more about the monsters and the quest. That’s the story Cates is focused on.

There’s also something nice and different with Cates’ take. The focus on a more fantasy world makes the debut stand out. The series could easily stick to its future tech setting but a city ruled by a King and a Prince who must complete a quest has a throwback and classic quality about it. The One You Feed #1 takes a familiar story and places it in a different and unexpected setting.

The art by Dylan Burnett is fantastic. Along with color by Dean White and lettering by John J. Hill the series has a nice blend of its various aspects. The monsters are numerous and varied. The technology progression tells a story by itself. And, when we get to the end point of time that begins our story the design too tells us what we need to know. While Cates dialogue walks us through Apollo’s perspective, the art team delivers what we need to know as far as what has happened over the years as well. The art fills in the details that Apollo’s words do not.

The One You Feed #1 is an absolute get. The unexpected release of it adds to the fun of it all but the quality is the real draw. This is a future fantasy story that has a lot of intrigue going for it and teases that it’ll take us in unexpected directions. The fact it’s pay-what-you-want is a bonus (and you should pay for it). Panel Syndicate is a publishing platform who is synonymous with quality and this is another feather in its cap.

Story: Donny Cates Art: Dylan Burnett
Color: Dean White Letterer/Design: John J. Hill
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: Recommendation: Buy

Purchase: Panel Syndicate

Donny Cates and Dylan Burnett’s The One You Feed Debuts on Panel Syndicate

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Panel Syndicate has a surprise debut on this new comic book day with The One You Feed from writer Donny Cates, artist Dylan Burnett, colorist Dean White, and letterer/designer John H. Hill.

The One You Feed is a fantasy terror tale perfectly timed for Halloween.

One day, long ago, and for no reason whatsoever..the moon rose in the night sky, and every human being on the planet began to violently change into the demons that live inside of their souls. Some of these monsters were good. Most…were not. Now, after hundreds of years of these nightly horrors, a young prince, armed only with a mysterious sword named Attum, must journey into the night to face the monsters under the stars, and meet the wolf that lives in his own heart…

Panel Syndicate is a digital comics platform that allows you to pay whatever price you want! You can get the comic right now.

Review: Nailbiter Returns #6

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Nailbiter Returns #6

Nailbiter Returns has been the type of horror story that I love. It clearly loves the genre playing with the tropes and expectations. It is as much a love letter to horror as it is a send-up at the same time. It has fun with something the creators clearly enjoy. The previous issue spun the genre a little turning the tables on the hunt and the hunted. It went Sarah Connor in Terminator 2. Nailbiter Returns #6 continues in that direction with our heroes on the hunt for the killers and heading back to Buckaroo to look for clues and figure out who is playing the game.

The sequel to Nailbiter has kept the concept somewhat simple. Serial killer fans are acting like the Buckaroo butchers and seeing who’s the greatest killer of them all. It’s a sequel in every sense and delivers a meta-like story that’s as much commentary on the genre as it is a story by itself. Creators Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson feel like they’re tapping some of what drove the creation of Scream (another horror film series I enjoy). Like that film, the comic series has played with expectations and in many ways makes fun of them.

That fun is on full display in Nailbiter Returns #6 which cracks jokes at those expectations. Repeated asks to call in reinforcements, jokes about zombies, double/triple/quadruple tap, are all touched upon and delivered with a wink and a smile that’s hard to not laugh with.

The art helps deliver the humor of it all. Adam Guzowski provides color with lettering by John J. Hill, enhancing Williamson and Henderson’s art. It’d be easy for the art to focus on gore and go for gross scares. But, the series instead delivers visuals that are just a bit over the top to not crack a smile. A serial killer is capture and left in a dog cage during travel, snarling with a frothing manner. Blood pops but in a way that’s just a bit over the top. There’s a use of both over the top imagery and underplaying it that works so well. Never at any time is it gore for gore’s sake. That’s not the focus nor does the comic need it. This is horror/action/comedy and the art reflects that voice and focus.

Nailbiter Returns #6 is another fantastic issue and I wish I could read more of the series as Halloween approaches. It’s a fantastic balance of humor, action, and horror. It knows exactly when to hit the punchline and when to deliver the blood. It also knows the genre so well to both be an homage and spoof in some ways. With the series now shifted to the Scooby-Doo investigated portion instead of just the scares, we get to see what else this creative team can have fun with. If you’re a fan of the horror genre, this is a must and so much fun.

Story: Joshua Williamson, Mike Henderson Art: Joshua Williamson, Mike Henderson
Color: Adam Guzowski Lettering: John J. Hill Design: John J. Hill Edits: Rebecca Taylor
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics

Early Review: Crossover #1

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Crossover #1

Stories about fantasy and reality bleeding over into each other isn’t anything that’s new. We’ve seen it numerous times before and in some cases its worked and sometimes it hasn’t. These types of stories often also play off of nostalgia and can get lost in pop culture references. Crossover #1 is the latest entry into this type of story and it succeeds and sores. It does so because it isn’t a pop culture check list and because it has a depth that can be debated and discussed.

Written by Donny Cates, Crossover #1 focuses on a world where the imagined has appeared in reality. In an unexplained event, the world of comics has popped up destroying a major American city where their battles rage resulting in the death of who knows how many. This event has lead to puritanical religious zealotry being waged against comics. It’s the latest “moral panic” to an extreme but actually based on something real as opposed to the imaginary events that have fueled that actual real world ones.

Where Cates succeeds is by bringing it all into the playground. The references to heroes from so many different publishers and lines is impressive. It gives the check list comic fans will enjoy without being bogged down in specifics. It doesn’t name Savage Dragon but there’s a reference that’s likely him as an example. But Cates balances the fantastical elements with the real-world impact. This is a world that has had a “Watchmen like” event destroying a city. Due to that there’d be real world change directly impacting pop culture and consumerism. We get to see that. We get to see how it also impacts businesses and communities. And that’s where I think Cates really succeeds. He emphasizes and makes front and center that comics is a community. It might be dysfunctional but we are a community.

The story revolves around two individuals, one works at a comic shop and one the son of a firebrand preacher. Each has their community. Those communities have their side on this issue. Each feels they’re under attack by the other and the events of “The Crossover” have only amplified that. Cates has taken real-world tension and turned it up into a comic event-like level.

Joining Cates is Geoff Shaw on art. Dee Cunniffe handles the color while John J. Hill is on lettering and design. The art is fantastic and that shouldn’t be a surprise at all. In reality, nothing about this debut issue’s quality should be a surprise. There’s a lot packed into the pages and panels which beg readers to examine the world and learn from the visuals. What little we see of the “comic characters come to the real world” will have you linger and attempting to figure things out but it’s the eventual twist of the comic that stands out about the thought put into the visuals. But, we’re not going to spoilt that fun.

Crossover #1 is an amazing start with a love letter to comics and its community. It also is a larger discussion about community as a whole with a lot of interpretation possible by readers. This is a comic that should be on everyone’s pull list and I have no doubt it’ll be seeing multiple printings and lots of buzz when it eventually comes to shelves. Do yourself a favor and don’t miss out. Crossover is a comic that should be on everyone’s pull-list.

Crossover #1 comes to comic shelves on November 4th, pre-order it now.

Story: Donny Cates Art: Geoff Shaw
Color: Dee Cunniffe Letterer & Design: John J. Hill
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Pre-Order: comiXology – Kindle – TFAW

Crossover Gets Collectible “Raw” Versions of Geoff Shaw and Ryan Stegman’s Covers

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Image Comics has reveal three breathtaking, collectible “raw” versions of the Geoff Shaw covers and Ryan Stegman cover for the forthcoming Crossover by Donny Cates, Geoff Shaw, Dee Cunniffe, and John J. Hill. These unique covers will showcase the raw inks and pencils behind the stunning cover art for the series coming this November.

The raw Geoff Shaw “Ellie” cover will be a 1:75 incentive cover, the raw Ryan Stegman cover art will be a 1:100 incentive cover, the Geoff Shaw “Infinity” cover (main cover) will be a 1:200 incentive cover.

The highly anticipated Crossover will also feature a 1:10 incentive cover by Daniel Warren Johnson, a 1:25 incentive cover by Tradd Moore, a 1:50 incentive cover by Ryan Ottley,

The creative powerhouses behind the bestselling, critically acclaimed God Country, Thanos Wins, and Redneck returns for Crossover. Imagine everything that you thought was fantasy…was real. And now join us, in a world where reality is dead…and anything is possible…

Crossover #1 will be available at comic book shops on Wednesday, November 4.

  • Crossover #1 Cover A Shaw & Stewart – SEP200012
  • Crossover #1 Cover B Stegman & Cunniffe – SEP200013
  • Crossover #1 Cover C Shaw “Ellie” – SEP208021
  • Crossover #1 Cover D (blank) – SEP208023
  • Crossover #1 Cover E 1:10 Daniel Warren Johnson – SEP208022
  • Crossover #1 Cover F 1:25 Tradd Moore – SEP208024
  • Crossover #1 Cover G 1:50 Ryan Ottley – SEP208025
  • Crossover #1 Cover H 1:75 Geoff Shaw “Ellie” (raw) – SEP208026
  • Crossover #1 Cover I 1:100 Ryan Stegman (raw) – SEP208027
  • Crossover #1 Cover J 1:200 Geoff Shaw “Infinity” (raw) – SEP208028

Review: Nailbiter Returns #5

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Nailbiter Returns #5

I’m not generally a fan of the horror genre. The films and shows I enjoy tend to be more on the comedic end of things. They act as both a love-letter and send-up to what’s come before. Nailbiter in some ways did that, while it’s sequel Nailbiter Returns absolutely does that. Nailbiter Returns #5 switches things up a bit more taking the over the top game of killers into the point where the heroes are on the hunt.

Sheriff Crane is back! But now she’s sporting an eye-patch and has a very Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2 attitude. It’s time for our crew to switch up the game and begin to hunt the killers!

Joshua Williamson and Mike Henderson have been nailing this series delivering a story that plays with tropes and expectations of this type of story. This isn’t just victims running from slashers, there’s also a bit of Scooby-Doo mixed in as well as everyone attempts to figure out what’s going on.

Nailbiter Returns #5 spends a lot of time focusing on Sheriff Crane and where she’s been. We find out how she survived and how she went underground in a fantastic sequence that once again “uses the rules” of the genre against itself and in that way has fun and honors what has come before.

We also get hints as to a bit more of what’s going on with the Buckaroo Butchers. That’s all mixed with the usual humor that this series is known for. Yes, there’s lots of blood and violence but there’s also a goofy aspect to it all. A killer is defeated by offering fingernails to chew or a trope of the killer running at the victim with arm raised with knife screaming. There’s just a style to it all that takes it from “scary” to “fun.”

That goes beyond the art but also the coloring by Adam Guzowski and lettering by John J. Hill. The use of black, white, and red is great never going over the top to be distracting with the amount of blood present. But, there’s enough to make it feel cartoonish in a good way. Hill’s lettering adds screams to pages and scenes that add to the atmosphere of it all. Like so much, it’s also over the top and full of energy that makes it all… fun.

Nailbiter Returns #5 continues the fun ride which takes a turn as our hunted heroes are now on the warpath. The series up to this point felt like a who’s who of serial killers hunting victims to up their body count. We’re at the part of the story where the game has turned with our heroes standing up and now hunting the serial killers. This isn’t a traditional outsmart the killer and survive, this is much more Terminator than Elm Street. It’s an infusion of a fun aspect that should make this series even more over the top and unpredictable.

Story: Joshua Williamson, Mike Henderson Art: Joshua Williamson, Mike Henderson
Color: Adam Guzowski Letterer: John J. Hill Design: John J. Hill
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics

SDCC 2020: Get a First Look at Crossover from Donny Cates, Geoff Shaw, Dee Cunniffe, and John J. Hill

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Announced during Comic-Con@Home, Crossover is the much anticipated new comic series from Donny Cates, Geoff Shaw, Dee Cunniffe, and John J. Hill. The team behind God Country and Redneck reunite for this new series being published by Image Comics and out in November.

What if a comic book summer event generated so much energy, broke down so many barriers, and upended so many expectations that the sheer critical mass of the moment blew open a portal into our world? Imagine if everything you thought was fantasy…was real. Now join us on an epic quest through a world where reality is dead… and anything is possible…

Get a look at Crossover #1 below!

Crossover #1
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